Regulator for dynamo-electric machines



'5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

0. G. PERKINS. REGULATOR FOR DYNAMO ELECTRIC MACHINES.

Patented Apr. 26, 188-7.

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G. G. PERKINS. REGULATOR FOR DYNAMO ELECTRIC MACHINES. l

No. 361,712. Patented Apr.-26, 1887.

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O. G. PERKINS. REGULATOR FOR DYNAMO ELEOTRIO MAGHINES.

No. 361,712. r Patented Apr. 26, 1887.

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(1% Model.) 5 SheetsSheet 4.

0. G.- PERKINS. REGULATOR FOR DYNAMO ELECTRIC MAGHINES. No. 361,712. Patented Apr. 26, 1887;

(No Mod'el'.) 5 Sheets- Sheet 5.

0. G. PERKINS. I REGULATOR FOR DYNAMO ELECTRIC MACHINES.

NO. 361,712. Patented Apr. 26, 1887.

Witmeoofeo Svwemtoz UNITED STATES CHARLES G. PERKINS, OF

PATENT OFFICE.

HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

REGULATOR FOR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 361,712, dated April 26, 1887.

Application filed September 18, 1886. Serial No. 213,907. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

- Be it known that I, CHARLES G. PERKINS, a

. citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford,in the county of Hartford and State of Con necticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Regulators for DynamoElectric Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in regulators for dynamo-electric machines, and

has the usual objects of inventions of that 'description-that is to say, it is designed to overcome irregularities of dynamo machines, whether such irregularities are due to variations in the number of translating devices in the Working-circuits or to variations in the speed of the armature-shafts. While I design to accomplish the same general objects sought by other inventors in this line, I also design to accomplish them in a greater degree of perfection.

It is common to secure the ends of this class of inventions either by automatic adjustments of the commutator-brushes or by varying the resistance of a shunt around the field-magnet. My apparatus is adapted to accomplish either of these results, as may be desired, or as may be most suited to the character of the translating devices employed in the working-circuit.

My apparatus is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents in perspective my regulator applied to a dynamo-electric machine of the Mather type, so as to adjust the brushes under proper conditions. Fig. 2 is an elevation of a similar form of regulator applied to a shaft, which may be the shaft of any dynamo. Fig. 3 is a plan of my regulator and the connected parts. Fig. 4 is a partly-sectional view showing details, and Fig. 5 is an elevation of my regulator as it appears when arranged to vary the resistance of a field-magnet circuit.

Referring firstto' Figs. 4 and 5, A is the shaft I of a dynamo-machine supported in a suitable bearing, B. The shaft is surrounded by a commutator, C, and a collar, 1), the latter of which is provided with a standard, (if, at either side. The said standards form supports for the shafts or rods 6 c, which carry the commutatorbrushes E E. The collar D is adjustable on the dynamo-shaft in the line of it's rotation, so as to admit of the adjustment of the brushes.

F is a collar on the shaft Abetween the collar D and the outer end of the commutator. The commutator is of course insulated from the shaft A and collar F by suitable insulating material, as G.

A post or standard, II, formed at the top into a cylindrical arm, H, parallel to the shaft A, is secured to the bearing B. The arm I1 forms a bearing for a shaft, I, extending lengthwise through it. To the forward end of the shaft I is hung a frame, J. The said frame is formed into a-circular piece somewhat below its point of support, and has a central opening somewhat larger in diameter than the shaft A, and surrounding the said shaft. Below the circular portion the frame is formed into a T- shaped piece, 7', which is located between the poles of the respective high and low resistance magnets K and K, and forms an armature for each of them.

At its extreme forward end the shaft I is reduced in size, and the reduced portion forms the bearing for a wheel, L; The wheel is held by friction,and kept from slipping off the end of the shaft by a metallic elastic washer, Z, secured in ,place by a screw, Z, tapped into the end of the shaft. At the right of the frame J a lug is formed, and to the lug is secured a short shaft, m, for the wheel M. By a similar construction the wheel N on the shaft n is supported at the left of the frame J. The shaft 0 of the wheel 0 is secured directly to the circular portion of the frame at the left without the formation of a lug. The wheels L, M, N, and O are covered at their periphery with soft rubber or other suitable material, so as to be easily operated by friction. The shaft A is also surrounded with a rim of rubber near its outer end. The periphery. of wheel M is con- 1' to the brush E.

stantly in contact with that of wheel L, as is also the periphery of wheel N. The latter contacts in a similar manner with the wheel 0. Now, when the frame with its attached wheels is hanging in its normal position, neither of the wheels makes contact with the rubber on the shaft A; but when the frame is moved slightly to the right or the left the wheels 0 and M, respectively, come in contact with the shaft. The frame hangs naturally, so as to bring the shaft at about the center of the circular portion, out of contact with the wheels. The frame is held normally in this position also by the springstops k is, supported on the magnets K K.

At the rear end of the shaft I an arm, P, is secured, which arm carries an insulated contact-piece, P. The latter is adapted to make adjustable contact with a series of resistances supported on a standard, Q, riveted to the bearing B.

The magnets K K are supported in a suitable frame, and arelarranged with their poles opposite each other in a position to act on the armature j, as already described. The magnet K is of low resistance, and is included in the working-circuit of the dynamo. Tracing the circuit from brush IE, it will be seen that it passes through the magnetK to one of the binding-posts r r of the working-circuit. I have shown electric incandescent lamps as translating devices arranged in multiple are in the said circuit; but electric motors or any other translating devices arranged in any preferred way might be used in their place. Returning, the circuit passes from the other binding-post The magnet K is a highresistance magnet, and is included in a shunt of the main circuit, as will be seen from the drawings. A second shunt includes the adjustable resistances P Q.

WVhen the dynamo and the lamps or other translating device are working in proper harmony, the frame J will hang centrally and the tendency of magnets K and Kwill be to keep the armature j midway between their poles. If, now, for any reason the resistance of the working-circuit becomes diminished, or the current of the dynamo is increased by reason of a more rapid rotation of the armature-shaft, or from any other cause, magnet K will be energized more strongly and its power will overbalance that of magnet K, thereby drawing the frame J and its connected parts to the right. This will have the effect of bringing the periphery of wheel 0 into contact with that portion of the shaft A which is covered with frictional material. Consequently as the shaft "rotates in the direction of the arrow it will move the wheel 0 to the left, causing wheel N to rotate to the right and wheel L to the left. By the latter movement the shaft I and the arm P will be moved also to the left, cutting out resistance from the shunt, and thereby reducing the effective power of the current generated by the dynamo.

out suddenness.

If, on the other hand, the resistance of the working-circuit increases, the power of magnet K will overbalance K and draw frame J to the left. When this happens, the wheel M will be brought into contact with the shaft of wheel A and turned to the left, thereby causing wheel L to rotate to the right and re verse the effects caused by the opposite movement.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, it will be seen that I dispense with the variable resistance and the shunt-circuit containing it, and employ in their place means for adjusting the brushes on the commutator. The principal points of difference in the construction is, that I provide a rack upon the upper portion of the collar D, which carries the commutator-brushes, and put a corresponding pinion on the rear end of the shaft I. By this means, whenever the shaft I is rotated to the right or left under the same conditions as before, the collar itself will be partially rotated in one direction or the opposite upon the shaft A, and the adjustment secured in that way.

I provide the end of shaft A and the wheels L M N O with tires or coverings of rubber, rather than with engaging cogs, so that the action of the apparatus may take place with- These parts, operating by friction, will not respond to a sudden motion without such slipping as will relieve their movements of jerkiness. By this means sparking and other deleterious effects will be avoided. To help on toward the same end, I have provided the yielding washer Z, which will also allow of slip. The magnet K may be replaced by a retractile spring, if preferred.

XVhile I claim specifically my devices as connected with commutator-brushes, yet I consider it an equivalent construction to connect them with means for regulating the our rent by means of the resistances shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Pat-- cut, is I 1. In a regulator for dynamo-electric machines, the combination, with the armatureshaft, of a freely-swinging frame, a train of friction-wheels mounted on said frame for adjusting the brushes, adjustable resistances, substantially as described, and means operated by a variation of the current generated by the machine for bringing the friction-wheelsinto operative contact with the shaft, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a regulator for dynamoelectric machines, the combination, with the armatureshaft, of a train of friction-wheels for adjustworkingcircuit and the other in a shunt around the same, as and for the purpose set forth. 3. The combination, with the shaft A and 5 the frame J, supporting the friction-wheels L, M, N, and O, the shaft I, pinion R, and rack S on the collar D, which supports the commutator-brushes, of the armature j on the frame J, and the magnets K and K, esnnd for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES G. PERKINS. Witnesses:

' WILLARD EDDY,

RICHARD H. M ATHER. 

